NEWS

ODOT officials urge help on trash pickup

Associated Press

COLUMBUS – Ohio transportation officials say waste pickup is wasting money that could go to things such as paving roads or buying new snowplow trucks.

The state Department of Transportation says it spends $4 million every year on litter collection. The department says the money used to pick up litter could buy 28 snowplow trucks, pave a 28-mile, two-lane road, or install 160 culverts.

The state says it gets help from local volunteers, including more than 1,400 Adopt-A-Highway groups. The groups clear a two-mile section or interchange at least four times a year for two years. The department says groups last year saved it some $130,000 in trash pickup.

They urge interested groups to apply to adopt highway sections.

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Online: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Operations/Maintenance/Pages/AdoptAHighway.aspx